Obama to skip Scalia funeral

[MaxQue]

Also, both Scalia and Biden are Catholic.

[Gass3268]

I thought this is why we had Vice-Presidents.

Exactly, it's almost in the job description.

[SillyAmerican]

It's not like they were friends, so I don't see why he would go. Not going to the funeral is not grounds for the Republicans to block a nomination.

You don't have to be a friend to pay your respects. Scalia, as one of nine justices in the highest court of the country, should be afforded the proper respect from those in the other branches of government. But am I surprised by the president's decision? Not in the least.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

So much for bipartisanship, is he trying to kill his nominee or something, this guys a joke.

How many sentences was this supposed to be?

[Figueira]

I never got why people criticized presidents for not attending events. I mean, I often miss events because I can't fit them into my schedule. Why do we assume that the President of the United States has lots of time on his hands? There are plenty of legitimate criticisms of Obama, but this is not one of them.

[Lincoln Republican]

Disgraceful behavior from a petulant President.

He ought to be ashamed of himself.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

IIRC Biden voted for him since the vote was 98-0 so yeah, it makes sense.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

I'm not surprised.

[Taco Truck 🚚]

Disgraceful behavior from a petulant President.

He ought to be ashamed of himself.

Truly can't wait for Obama to be gone.

unstable.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I'm usually a defender of Obama when it comes to criticism about him skipping funerals (in fact, I think this will be the first time I criticize him for skipping one), but this one he probably should attend.  That being said, there's a history of presidents not attending funerals for SCOUTS justices.  Only 3 out of the last 7 funerals have had a president attend.  So, while I'm not going to defend this one, I also don't think it's something to raise a fuss about.

[Zache]

Well this is amusing:

[cinyc]

I'm usually a defender of Obama when it comes to criticism about him skipping funerals (in fact, I think this will be the first time I criticize him for skipping one), but this one he probably should attend.  That being said, there's a history of presidents not attending funerals for SCOUTS justices.  Only 3 out of the last 7 funerals have had a president attend.  So, while I'm not going to defend this one, I also don't think it's something to raise a fuss about.

The number of funerals that Presidents attended for retired Supreme Court Justices is irrelevant.  Justice Scalia was a sitting Supreme Court Justice at the time of his death.  Those funerals are historically much rarer than those of retired Justices.  The last two times a sitting Justice died in office, Presidents Bush and Eisenhower attended their funerals.  Respect for a current high officeholder of one of the three branches of government is what should dictate that.

Obama is making a big mistake by not attending Justice Scalia's funeral.  It makes him look petty.  Especially if, as rumored, he's going to be golfing Saturday instead.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I'm usually a defender of Obama when it comes to criticism about him skipping funerals (in fact, I think this will be the first time I criticize him for skipping one), but this one he probably should attend.  That being said, there's a history of presidents not attending funerals for SCOUTS justices.  Only 3 out of the last 7 funerals have had a president attend.  So, while I'm not going to defend this one, I also don't think it's something to raise a fuss about.

The number of funerals that Presidents attended for retired Supreme Court Justices is irrelevant.  Justice Scalia was a sitting Supreme Court Justice at the time of his death.  Those funerals are historically much rarer than those of retired Justices.  The last two times a sitting Justice died in office, Presidents Bush and Eisenhower attended their funerals.  Respect for a current high officeholder of one of the three branches of government is what should dictate that.

Obama is making a big mistake by not attending Justice Scalia's funeral.  It makes him look petty.  Especially if, as rumored, he's going to be golfing Saturday instead.

And that's why I'm not going to defend him on this one.  But at least for me, it's not something I'd go out of my way to criticize him about.

[Beet]

Obama has a cold, arrogant side to him. That's always been known. For example, he didn't go Paris. But no one's perfect. As far as character flaws, this one is pretty tame. Heck, this way Scalia's funeral will be focused on him and by all accounts his family prefers it that way. Also, it's a stereotype breaking flaw-- African Americans are stereotyped as excessively warm and easygoing, having a black president that acts excessively the opposite is a bit of a cultural corrective. In fact, I would guess the same character traits that manifest his behavior here also helps explain the relative lack of scandals in his administration.

[Higgs]

Obama has a cold, arrogant side to him. That's always been known. For example, he didn't go Paris. But no one's perfect. As far as character flaws, this one is pretty tame. Heck, this way Scalia's funeral will be focused on him and by all accounts his family prefers it that way. Also, it's a stereotype breaking flaw-- African Americans are stereotyped as excessively warm and easygoing, having a black president that acts excessively the opposite is a bit of a cultural corrective. In fact, I would guess the same character traits that manifest his behavior here also helps explain the relative lack of scandals in his administration.

Do you not remember the VA scandal, fast and furious, Benghazi, IRS targeting conservatives? I remember there was an entire week in 2014 where he had a scandal pretty much each day.

[Beet]

Obama has a cold, arrogant side to him. That's always been known. For example, he didn't go Paris. But no one's perfect. As far as character flaws, this one is pretty tame. Heck, this way Scalia's funeral will be focused on him and by all accounts his family prefers it that way. Also, it's a stereotype breaking flaw-- African Americans are stereotyped as excessively warm and easygoing, having a black president that acts excessively the opposite is a bit of a cultural corrective. In fact, I would guess the same character traits that manifest his behavior here also helps explain the relative lack of scandals in his administration.

Do you not remember the VA scandal, fast and furious, Benghazi, IRS targeting conservatives? I remember there was an entire week in 2014 where he had a scandal pretty much each day.

I was about to say all those are minor/non-scandals, but then I remembered the Solyndra scandal. I guess you're right. The most scandal-ridden administration in history.

[Brittain33]

Have people considered that when a President attends an event, his security needs take over and make things so much more complicated? This is one reason he didn't attend the royal wedding a few years ago.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Have people considered that when a President attends an event, his security needs take over and make things so much more complicated? This is one reason he didn't attend the royal wedding a few years ago.

Yes, and that's very fair, normally, but equating the Royal Wedding to this isn't fair.  There will be presidential levels as is with the VP, Scotus, Congress and perhaps former Past President(s)......I don't think it would cause any more confusion than you'll see now.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Obama has a cold, arrogant side to him. That's always been known. For example, he didn't go Paris. But no one's perfect. As far as character flaws, this one is pretty tame. Heck, this way Scalia's funeral will be focused on him and by all accounts his family prefers it that way. Also, it's a stereotype breaking flaw-- African Americans are stereotyped as excessively warm and easygoing, having a black president that acts excessively the opposite is a bit of a cultural corrective. In fact, I would guess the same character traits that manifest his behavior here also helps explain the relative lack of scandals in his administration.

There is a lot about Obama I hate (his arrogance, weakness, and general assholery), but one trait of his that I do like is his ability to be very petty at times-that is not a bad thing. I for one am glad that he didn't go to Paris to kiss Hollandes/Charlie Hedbo ass and participate in that silly unity march after the first round of Paris attacks.

[Taco Truck 🚚]

Have people considered that when a President attends an event, his security needs take over and make things so much more complicated? This is one reason he didn't attend the royal wedding a few years ago.

Yeah.  I heard that was a big factor in President Obama not going to Paris.  The place was in disarray.  Hardly the best time for an impromptu POTUS visit, but I guess people will believe what they want to believe.

Imagine this stroll through town with POTUS right in the middle...



I mean I thought President Obama was a gay godless liberal who loved the socialist French?  Or is it just that he loves Muslim terrorists more, because he is a Muslim?  I don't get it.  The insults have started contradicting each other.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

This whole thread is much ado about nothing.

[Gass3268]

Obama has a cold, arrogant side to him. That's always been known. For example, he didn't go Paris. But no one's perfect. As far as character flaws, this one is pretty tame. Heck, this way Scalia's funeral will be focused on him and by all accounts his family prefers it that way. Also, it's a stereotype breaking flaw-- African Americans are stereotyped as excessively warm and easygoing, having a black president that acts excessively the opposite is a bit of a cultural corrective. In fact, I would guess the same character traits that manifest his behavior here also helps explain the relative lack of scandals in his administration.

Do you not remember the VA scandal, fast and furious, Benghazi, IRS targeting conservatives? I remember there was an entire week in 2014 where he had a scandal pretty much each day.

I think he meant real scandals, not fake ones.

[IceSpear]

How heartless of Obama to politicize this! Just ask McConnell and the GOP presidential candidates who started talking about never accepting a potential nominee 2 minutes after the guy croaked.

[Brittain33]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/obama-family-scalia

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[Joe Republic]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/obama-family-scalia

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Ugh, that Obama is such a disgraceful asshole.